Week: Holy Spirit Adventures - the Book of Acts
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Holy Spirit, like the disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, we’re patiently waiting for You to fill us with Your power and with Your presence. We’re ready for You to send us on new adventures.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Jackson R
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Tabitha was always doing good and helping those who were poor, but then she got sick and died. When this happened, Tabitha’s friends sent a message to Peter, asking him to come quickly and pray for her. Today, we’re REFLECTING on what happened when Peter arrived.
Read by Jackson R
Acts 9:40-42
Peter sent everyone out of the room and kneeled and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, stand up.’ She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and the widows into the room and showed them that Tabitha was alive. People everywhere in Joppa learned about this, and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:40-42 (NCV)
How many of us have heard the story of Tabitha before? She isn’t someone we hear talked about a lot and yet her story is here in the book of Acts. Some of the stories in the book of Acts are dramatic; like people escaping from prison and others getting shipwrecked. Today, however, we’ve read about an ordinary woman who did good things and served those who were poor in her community… and then God dramatically healed her.
It’s good to be reminded that God is interested in our lives, even when we feel ordinary and not particularly special.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What ‘ordinary’ things could we do to help people and just be kind to others?
And now we ask God to help us and others.
Loving God, you love to use ordinary people, like Tabitha, and like us, to be part of the extraordinary things that you do in the world. We ASK You to remind us that we all have an important part to play, no matter how small and unimportant we feel.
Today’s Bible verses remind us that God has the power to heal people – to make them better when they’re sick and ill. Who do we know who needs to be healed? Let’s quietly pray our own prayers for them now
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Acts 9:40-42
Peter sent everyone out of the room and kneeled and prayed. Then he turned to the body and said, ‘Tabitha, stand up.’ She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and the widows into the room and showed them that Tabitha was alive. People everywhere in Joppa learned about this, and many believed in the Lord.Acts 9:40-42 (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Holy Spirit, we say YES to going on adventures with You. We choose to believe that you have an important part for us to play in your plans.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Romans 8:14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Romans 8:14 (NIV)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Joy lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and her dog. She works for Bridgetown Church where she leads kids as they grow, learn, and have lots of fun. Joy loves gardening, summer camp, eating ice cream, and reading her favourite books, The Chronicles of Narnia.
Jackson is 11 and lives with his younger brother and parents in Surrey. He loves pretty much all sport but his favourites are football, golf and jumping off high stuff into water! He enjoys gaming and is always ready to build something on Minecraft.
